Former Vice President Walter Mondale on "Face The Nation" on March 7, 1982.
In pictures: Former Vice President Walter Mondale
Former Vice President Walter Mondale on "Face The Nation" on March 7, 1982.
AP

Published 12:47 AM EDT, Tue April 20, 2021

Walter "Fritz" Mondale, who served as vice president under then-President Jimmy Carter, has died, according to family spokesperson Kathy Tunheim. He was 93.

In his early days, Mondale served as Minnesota's attorney general starting in 1960. He was later named to the US Senate, where he represented Minnesota from 1964 until 1976, when he signed on as Carter's running mate. He served as vice president under Carter between 1977 and 1981, until Ronald Reagan and his running mate, George H.W. Bush, defeated Carter and him in 1980.

Mondale would go on to win the Democratic presidential nomination himself in 1984, and make history by naming a woman, US Rep. Geraldine A. Ferraro of New York, as his running mate before ultimately falling short to Reagan. Later he served as both the US ambassador to Japan and the envoy to Indonesia under former President Bill Clinton.

Mondale is sworn in as Minnesota Attorney General by Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Dell, right, on May 5, 1960, in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Mondale is sworn in as Minnesota Attorney General by Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Dell, right, on May 5, 1960, in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Gene Herrick/AP
Mondale and his 4-year-old daughter Eleanor cook steaks in his family's new kitchen in Minneapolis on June 20, 1964.
Mondale and his 4-year-old daughter Eleanor cook steaks in his family's new kitchen in Minneapolis on June 20, 1964.
Earl Seubert/Star Tribune/Getty Images
Joan and Walter Mondale pose for a family photo with their kids Eleanor, William and Ted, in Minneapolis on October 21, 1964.
Joan and Walter Mondale pose for a family photo with their kids Eleanor, William and Ted, in Minneapolis on October 21, 1964.
Dauane Braley/Star Tribune/Getty Images
Mondale smiles while speaking to Minnesota Gov. Karl Rolvaag on November 17, 1964. Rolvaag appointed Mondale to the US Senate after Hubert H. Humphrey was elected vice president.
Mondale smiles while speaking to Minnesota Gov. Karl Rolvaag on November 17, 1964. Rolvaag appointed Mondale to the US Senate after Hubert H. Humphrey was elected vice president.
Gene Herrick/AP
Mondale, center, clasps his hands and bows his head in a prayer line for civil rights demonstrators in Selma, Alabama, in Unity Unitarian Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on March 11, 1965.
Mondale, center, clasps his hands and bows his head in a prayer line for civil rights demonstrators in Selma, Alabama, in Unity Unitarian Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on March 11, 1965.
Earl Seubert/Star Tribune/Getty Images
Mondale and his wife attend the inaugural ball for newly sworn-in President Lyndon B. Johnson in Washington, DC, on January 20, 1965.
Mondale and his wife attend the inaugural ball for newly sworn-in President Lyndon B. Johnson in Washington, DC, on January 20, 1965.
Earl Seubert/Star Tribune/Getty Images
Mondale and other senators watch as Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1968 into law on April 11, 1968.
Mondale and other senators watch as Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1968 into law on April 11, 1968.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Jimmy Carter and Mondale clasp hands after their acceptance speeches for the Democratic presidential ticket at the Democratic National Convention at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan on July 15, 1976.
Jimmy Carter and Mondale clasp hands after their acceptance speeches for the Democratic presidential ticket at the Democratic National Convention at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan on July 15, 1976.
Joe Dombroski/Newsday RM/Getty Images
Mondale signs a poster of him and Carter while campaigning in New York on October 4, 1976.
Mondale signs a poster of him and Carter while campaigning in New York on October 4, 1976.
Keystone Pictures/Alamy
President Carter speaks with Vice President Mondale in the Oval Office in Washington, DC, in May 1977. They defeated the Republican ticket, Gerald Ford and Bob Dole, in the 1976 election.
President Carter speaks with Vice President Mondale in the Oval Office in Washington, DC, in May 1977. They defeated the Republican ticket, Gerald Ford and Bob Dole, in the 1976 election.
David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images
Vice President Mondale and Sen. Ted Kennedy play doubles in the RFK Tennis Tournament on August 26, 1977, in the Queens borough of New York.
Vice President Mondale and Sen. Ted Kennedy play doubles in the RFK Tennis Tournament on August 26, 1977, in the Queens borough of New York.
Ken Regan/Walt Disney Television/Getty Images
Mondale and President Carter talk together in the Rose Garden of the White House on April 13, 1978, in Washington, DC.
Mondale and President Carter talk together in the Rose Garden of the White House on April 13, 1978, in Washington, DC.
The White House/CNP/Getty Images
Mondale listens with Speaker of the House Thomas O'Neill as President Carter delivers his speech on the Salt II Treaty to a Joint Session of Congress on June 18, 1979.
Mondale listens with Speaker of the House Thomas O'Neill as President Carter delivers his speech on the Salt II Treaty to a Joint Session of Congress on June 18, 1979.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Mondale and Dianne Feinstein campaign in San Francisco for President Carter's reelection on September 5, 1980.
Mondale and Dianne Feinstein campaign in San Francisco for President Carter's reelection on September 5, 1980.
Vici MacDonald/San Francisco Chronicle/Getty Images
Mondale stands beside President Carter as he gives his concession speech on November 4, 1980, after losing to Ronald Reagan.
Mondale stands beside President Carter as he gives his concession speech on November 4, 1980, after losing to Ronald Reagan.
Crobis/Getty Images
Mondale gives an interview on December 12, 1983.
Mondale gives an interview on December 12, 1983.
George Tames/The New York Times/Redux
Mondale gives a speech at the Minnesota House Chamber after announcing his candidacy for president in St. Paul on February 1, 1983.
Mondale gives a speech at the Minnesota House Chamber after announcing his candidacy for president in St. Paul on February 1, 1983.
Diana Walker/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Mondale heads out to play tennis while his wife Joan stands on the porch of their Washington, DC, home in 1983.
Mondale heads out to play tennis while his wife Joan stands on the porch of their Washington, DC, home in 1983.
Oliver Morris/Getty Images
Mondale scales a fish during a campaign stop in Pittsburgh in April 1984. His nickname, "Fritz," is printed on his apron.
Mondale scales a fish during a campaign stop in Pittsburgh in April 1984. His nickname, "Fritz," is printed on his apron.
Diana Walker/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Mondale puckers up to kiss a child while campaigning in May 1984.
Mondale puckers up to kiss a child while campaigning in May 1984.
Diana Walker/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Mondale gives a thumbs up to the camera as Rep. Geraldine Ferraro waves in July 1984. Mondale chose Ferraro as his running mate, making her the first woman vice presidential candidate for a major party.
Mondale gives a thumbs up to the camera as Rep. Geraldine Ferraro waves in July 1984. Mondale chose Ferraro as his running mate, making her the first woman vice presidential candidate for a major party.
Diana Walker/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Mondale and his son William work on his acceptance speech ahead of the Democratic National Convention in July 1984.
Mondale and his son William work on his acceptance speech ahead of the Democratic National Convention in July 1984.
Diana Walker/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Mondale addresses a citizens' forum in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, on September 22, 1984. Mondale spoke about the embassy annex bombing in Beirut.
Mondale addresses a citizens' forum in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, on September 22, 1984. Mondale spoke about the embassy annex bombing in Beirut.
Lana Harris/AP
Mondale speaks during a presidential debate with Republican opponent Ronald Reagan in Louisville, Kentucky, on October 7, 1984.
Mondale speaks during a presidential debate with Republican opponent Ronald Reagan in Louisville, Kentucky, on October 7, 1984.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Mondale and family William, Eleanor, and wife Joan celebrate at a party following the debate.
Mondale and family William, Eleanor, and wife Joan celebrate at a party following the debate.
Diana Walker/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Mondale gives his presidential concession speech on November 6, 1984. He and Ferraro lost to President Ronald Reagan and then-Vice President George H. W. Bush.
Mondale gives his presidential concession speech on November 6, 1984. He and Ferraro lost to President Ronald Reagan and then-Vice President George H. W. Bush.
Diana Walker/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Mondale and Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono enter the meeting room at the foreign ministry in Tokyo before their talks on September 21, 1995. Mondale was appointed US Ambassador to Japan under President Bill Clinton.
Mondale and Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono enter the meeting room at the foreign ministry in Tokyo before their talks on September 21, 1995. Mondale was appointed US Ambassador to Japan under President Bill Clinton.
Tokyo Shimbun/AFP/Getty Images
Mondale is cheered on by supporters in downtown Minneapolis on November 5, 2002. Mondale became Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party candidate for US Senate following the death of Sen. Paul Wellstone. Mondale was defeated by Norm Coleman.
Mondale is cheered on by supporters in downtown Minneapolis on November 5, 2002. Mondale became Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party candidate for US Senate following the death of Sen. Paul Wellstone. Mondale was defeated by Norm Coleman.
Mike Segar/Reuters
Mondale arrives for the funeral mass of his former running mate Geraldine Ferraro at the Church of Saint Vincent Ferrer in New York on Thursday, March 31, 2011.
Mondale arrives for the funeral mass of his former running mate Geraldine Ferraro at the Church of Saint Vincent Ferrer in New York on Thursday, March 31, 2011.
Stephen Chernin/AP
Then-Vice President Joe Biden and Mondale shake hands during an event honoring Mondale at The George Washington University in Washington, DC, on October 20, 2015.
Then-Vice President Joe Biden and Mondale shake hands during an event honoring Mondale at The George Washington University in Washington, DC, on October 20, 2015.
Joshua Roberts/Alamy
Former Vice President Walter Mondale walks through the Ohio Clock Corridor in the Capitol on Tuesday, January 6, 2015, in Washington, DC.
Former Vice President Walter Mondale walks through the Ohio Clock Corridor in the Capitol on Tuesday, January 6, 2015, in Washington, DC.
Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images
Mondale sits on stage with former President Jimmy Carter during a celebration of Mondale's 90th birthday on Saturday, January 13, 2018, in Minneapolis.
Mondale sits on stage with former President Jimmy Carter during a celebration of Mondale's 90th birthday on Saturday, January 13, 2018, in Minneapolis.
Anthony Souffle/Star Tribune/Getty Images
Mondale poses for a photo at his Mill District condo on April 30, 2019, in Minneapolis.
Mondale poses for a photo at his Mill District condo on April 30, 2019, in Minneapolis.
Star Tribune/Getty Images